Maybe Baby

by Elaine Fox

Not Looking For Mr. Right...

Dr. Delaney Poole thinks Harp Cove, Maine, will be the perfect place to settle down and raise her infant daughter -- though she can't say why. Something wonderful happened in this charming, two-spotlight coastal town on a previous summer night, when a sexy stranger stole his way briefly into her heart and then moved on. But now single-mom Delaney has to invent a husband in order to deflect smalltown gossip -- buying masculine clothing that no one will ever wear, framing pictures she's cut from magazine. Her foolproof plan has one small glitch, however: her one-time mystery man is Delaney's new landlord!

Jack Shepard never dreamed he'd see Delaney again -- and he doesn't believe for one minute her cockamamie story about a husband! While he's exploring the leaks in Delaney's bathroom -- and in her alleged "marriage" -- he's trying desperately to get her to admit that they share something special. But when the truth does come out, can Jack and Delaney deal with the passionate consequence?

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Chick Lit, Humor, Fiction, Rom Com

384 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 31, 2001

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

Reviews

[Lisa (Remarkablylisa) · Rating 2 out of 5]

UGH THIS ONE WAS SO FRUSTRATING I love two of the Elaine Fox books I read so I thought I would love all of hers but this one left me disgusted with our lying heroine?!? She literally kept her baby's father's identity a secret for the entire book and made our hero feel CRAZY for thinking her fake husband was exactly...fake. When in reality he's the father!! Instead of being angry, he's way too forgiving and the secret is revealed way too late in the book. She got off way too easily. Also this book was straight up annoying when all she did was continuing to lie and cover up her lies when people poked holes in them.

[Alex · Rating 1 out of 5]

First chapter in, I thought I was somewhere I'd like. Maybe in the vein of some of my favorite paperback romances a'la Rachel Gibson or Lani Diane Rich. Not as screwball as a Crusie, but a funny enough, small town affair with some chest squeezing moments.

Delaney was having a Mary Tyler Moment of oohing and aahing over this tiny Maine town where she'd become their fancy Doc from out of town, and she's twirling and about to go into the bar to meet up with the super hot guy that she's met in town who has a boat and who she assumes is visiting just like her. He's charming, and his eyes crinkle and then they're banging it out on the beach. At this point I should have been alerted that I wasn't gonna dig it. It was a little fluffy and a little too...introspectively sweet to be a one night stand. But, whatevs.

So, you know what happens next. They part and she's knocked up and some of her most engaging moments were here when she was trying to figure her shit out alongside her best friend. A dude. Yes, he's gay, but he's her bestie and he believes in her. I loved Michael, because he said all the things to her I wanted to shout when she started to fall down the I'm A Mother Now well that led her to make a bunch of crappy, selfish decisions. She ends up in this Maine town and who also lives there? Her baby daddy that she sort of tried to get in touch with, but hey. He had sex with her after only knowing her a couple of hours and what kind of dad would he make? I mean...he's a got a boat. Ridiculous. And he banged it out with this hottie twenty year-old. No, I'm not being selfish or insecure. I don't want my daughter to have a shitty step mom. So I'm going to MAKE ALL THE DECISIONS.

Delaney was so ridiculous at this point and I couldn't believe the way she explained herself to herself. Michael tried subtly pointing things out to her over the phone and there was this Ha Ha funny parallel with the soap opera everyone in town watched, but because of Delaney's outlandish lies, crazy choices AND THEN to top it off with her unbelievable snobby attitude towards his job, life, and the harmless choices he's made befitting of a single man with a job he loves. She loses it over the old men gossiping in the diner. Completely loses it and dumps all that insecurity on Jack WHO SHE WON'T TELL ABOUT HIS OWN DAUGHTER. It was aggravating and it completely stole away from any possibility of them having chemistry together, or simply giving a crap if they ended up together. I wanted to tell him it wasn't worth the hassle. She's cray, dude. Disengage and get the hell out of there.

[Elle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall I liked this story. It was, however, a little slow moving. For almost the entire book Delaney is pretending to have a husband so there isn't much action.

The town is cute, and they really play up the 'gossip' part of the small town.

Delaney has some major issues, but I seemed to be the only one aware of this. Jack isn't even upset that he missed involvement in the last 2 months of his daughters life. He just seems to understand Delaneys neurosis and explains it away by saying 'you were scare'. Ah. If only people would so easily explain away the stupid shit I sometimes think is a good idea. Actions have consequences and Elaine Fox makes a point of avoiding the consequences here.

As I was reading, and envisioning the ending, I would have had Aunt Linda notice the physical similarities between Emma and Jack, alert Jack. Have Jack and Linda be pissed at Delaney and then have Delaney be forced to confront Jack in public in front of all the old gossiping men. Or somemthing. Not that I've thought much about it ...

Anyway 3/5. I would read Elaine Fox again ... and we'll see.

[Nikki · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was recommended to me, and I am glad I read it. It was cute and a fast read.

Delaney meets this cute sailor, Jack, while checking out a clinic for a future job. The passion and lust bring them to a one night stand that they will never forget. Really, cuz little did they know, but Delaney gets pregnant. Now, faced with the fact that she doesn't even know his last name, (totally reminds me of that Carrie Underwood song) she is left with the problem or finding him or forgetting him and moving on without a father for her child.


There are alot of secondary characters that I wish we would have gotten to know a little better, but understood why she didn't. The love story that ensues is filled with humor, sadness, and just this silly soap opera connection. I felt that this being something that I don't usually read, (a child being involved) it was simply cute. A great book to pick up on a rainy day.

[Tin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Funny? Yes. Romantic? Sure. But after Delaney dragged the whole thing for far too long, i was already cringing. She was more stupid than afraid that i can't believe Jack haven't run for the hills yet.

And then, after all that buildup, after all that craziness, the confrontation ended with both of them laughing. I just can't get my head wrapped around the idea that that's a cute ending. It's more like the-wrong-kind-of-silly ending. Ugh.

[K S · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was hilarious especially the ending. I devoured it in a day. I wish it didn't have to end. I don't want to move on with my life. 😂 A good fluffy book after reading some anxiety inducing stuff. This one's a keeper. ♥️

[Goddess Of Blah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had so much potential. Its good, but not brill. Its not your typical clichéd chick lit, there's a career successful heroine and no typical tall, dark and handsome hero to save the day. The writing style isn't sophisticated but that isn't expected. There could have been more spark and more emotion involved. Its too “light” and not enough depth. But otherwise a reasonable romance. Not as good as “Hot Stuff” or “Man at Work”

Synopsis: Dr. Delaney Poole thinks Harp Cove, Maine, will be the perfect place to settle down and raise her infant daughter -- though she can't say why. Something wonderful happened in this charming, two-spotlight coastal town on a previous summer night, when a sexy stranger stole his way briefly into her heart and then moved on. But now single-mom Delaney has to invent a husband in order to deflect small-town gossip -- buying masculine clothing that no one will ever wear, framing pictures she's cut from magazine. Her foolproof plan has one small glitch, however: her one-time mystery man is Delaney's new landlord!Jack Shepard never dreamed he'd see Delaney again -- and he doesn't believe for one minute her cockamamie story about a husband! While he's exploring the leaks in Delaney's bathroom -- and in her alleged "marriage" -- he's trying desperately to get her to admit that they share something special. But when the truth does come out, can Jack and Delaney deal with the passionate consequence?

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first book by Elaine Fox and It was very good. I have said before that I don't usually like books that have children in them but Emily was very cute and easy to fall in love with. I wasn't so sure about Delaney even though I'm happy about the HEA, I still kinda think that Delaney was somewhat of a stuck up and that she couldn't see past herself to think hey it is gossip. I liked Jack a lot although I hated hated hated his brother like really bad. I do feel that the book turned out right and I kinda feel that these two character were very much different from any character that I have ever read. So I give the author props for being very original and showing us something different. I mean yes the premise is something maybe you have read before but its more about how you could see and feel originality and know that there are honest to god people out there with these types personalities. I do feel that there were some pretty important story lines that were dropped like Delaney's mom and dad, I so wanted to see her mom leave that rat of husband of hers. He just sounded to cruel. I also would have loved to see Jack really put his brother Kevin in his place because he had no right to be so mean and cruel to Jack. Though if this book is proof how how her other books are going to be I can't wait to on start them.

[Carrie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Decided not to finish this book after I realized it had the "secret baby" plot. I skimmed the book from there and decided I couldn't like a heroine who was so selfish she'd keep the father in the dark about a child, especially when she had to go to so much trouble to do it. I like Elaine Fox, but the subject matter of this book isn't funny or appealing to me. Too many books, too little time.

[Leslie aka StoreyBook Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

cute book about a doctor (that should know better) that gets "knocked up" and how her life is after reconnecting with the father but not wanting him to know that he is the father.

cute book, funny parts.

[Keara · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was looking for a fun, easy, enjoyable read to offset for stress. I remember liking this book when I read it years ago. So I thought this would fit what I was looking for. The story felt incredibly repetitive. I ended up skimming over most of it.

[May Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is why lying would lead you nowhere. It makes your life complicated and once you start, you can't stop.

That is what happened to our heroine, all right? Thanks to her paranoia, she forgot that she lives in a small town where everyone will find out eventually whether she's telling the truth or otherwise. I think this book is a perfect recommendation for suspected liars in your life. And while I understand where she is coming from, I simply still do not find what she did agreeable all for self-preservation. Good thing the author is a good writer. While I find the pacing to the ultimate truth long and tedious, it wasn't tad boring because small-town life is always a good read. All in all, this was still worth reading.

[Veronica · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG! SO good! Better than I thought at first.

[Anna Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to admit - I laughed so hard, I was in tears. Hadda pee. That funny. BUT... it was PAINFUL. I mean, this woman... there's no WAY she could be a doctor and be that damn stupid. If she were real, the Board of Health would prohibit her breathing, anymore, I swear it. THAT stupid. But it was funny.

Okay, so Delaney is in D.C., living with her parents, finishing her residency, and she just wants to get away and have a life of her own. So she signs on for an assignment at a clinic up in Maine, for after her residency. She even takes a trip up to visit the town, and while there meets Jack, who is gorgeous, and takes her out to hear a band, then down to the seaside for some splashing and then sex in the sand. With a condom.

Six weeks later, she's nauseous, late, and exhausted... and pregnant. She thought Jack was just visiting the town, like she was, so she couldn't find him to tell him. But she wanted this baby - it was perfect, just her and her little one, no need for messy relationships in her new life.

Except that Jack lives in the little town. In fact, he's her first patient - konked in the head with a metal Wonder Woman bust (don't ask) by his 19yo bimbo girlfriend. The town is quick to share Jack's story with her - he's dated every woman there is, and has dozens of summer flings with the tourists. He's indiscriminate, a show off local football coach, and... Delaney does NOT want anyone (especially Jack) knowing that her baby is his. So she starts to lie.

First she fibs about how old baby Emily is, so Jack doesn't suspect it's his. Then she invents a husband, because how respectable is a doctor who got knocked up out of wedlock? Then she has to flesh out the story of her failing marriage, because... where's the husband?

Then the lie gets away from her, when she forgets her imaginary husband's name, and then forgets how old her baby is, and... it just snowballs into a disaster. And through this time, she is constantly thrown in Jack's path - Jack, who isn't really a womanizer, he just encourages the old coots at the diner in their fabricated stories, to keep things exciting in this one-horse town. No, actually, he fell in love with Delaney on that beach, and is going insane trying to figure out what her problem is... what's up with this really strange marriage she has going, and why she's so flustered when he's around.

It was... ridiculous. Seriously ridiculous. From WonderWoman to her husband Jim-Joe (or Joe-Jim). But it was funny. Just... wha.

[Heather J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read first 70 pages, skimmed the middle and last thirty. Didn't like how Delaney could just spout out lies and have assumptions so that's why I didn't commit to entire book. The ending wonderful and made me cry happy tears. Not bad for a book found in a little free library at a park. Maybe I should have committed to entire story.

[Grace*dnfing books since 2022* · Rating 3 out of 5]

Basically Elaine Fox is a really talented writer and can logically formulate hilarious scenarios with realistic dialogue. She also creates very realistic characters.

However, the romance is not there, which is why this book is average ratings and crappy-ass books have very high ratings, even though the guy may be psychotic or schizophrenic, and go from a normal person to a raging maniac when the girl leaves for an extended amount of time or he may be a really repressed person and then propose in front of everyone with elaborate, expensive, really unbelievable displays. Those books are high on romance, although crappy on everything else, including editing, dialogue, vocabulary, etc. etc.

So, this book is really hilarious and enjoyable but the guy is not very desirable and he doesn't ever go out of his way to pursue the girl that much. And he's kind of a loser, to be honest.

[Kelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this story! Delaney and Jack were such an awesome couple to see how their love story would pan out. After a one-night stand you could tell Delaney was feeling guilty more than anything else and completly scared of what to do with the pregnancy. Who wouldn't be with the example that she had from her parents? The interaction between Delaney and Jack when she moved to town was fun. You could feel the heat between them that Delaney desperately wanted to keep at bay in fear for herself more than Emily. It was funny in a way to see her try desperatelt to make up a husband and remember everything about him. Her slip ups always made you hold your breath to see if anyone noticed. Loved how her best friend Michael helped her in telling the truth and her getting the happily ever after that she deserved!

[L · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is quite similiar to For one night by Penny Jordan . Only the setting is British and the reason she lies is a lttle different as the book was written in 1987. I liked the penny jordan version better as it is well written.

[Nenya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amusing read, granted. But I don't really like m/c's to cheat... or jump in the sack with someone else at the drop of a hat... the H and h doing it, well, it's romance, I'll go with the he/she-was-irresistible idea, ow/om, ah, no.

oh, and the ow was a one-night's drunken mistake... ugh... he could've said the same thing about the h

This was funny enough though (laugh out loud funny) to warrant 3stars, especially, the scene where Jack shows her photo frames with her supposed husband's picture, and she comes up with another silly lie

[Jane · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm very looking forward to this book. And truly it does interest me in the earlier stage. Then I'm getting bored. With the lies and the imaginary husband and stuff. And the way the heroine can lie about the baby father right in front of the hero. Kind of having conflicted feelings while reading this book. The only part I'm laughing is she found her husband photo. As a model for lots of merchandise I see. ^^

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very Cute book. Loved the characters and the story. Had a very interesting part of the story and what Dr. Delaney created. Had to LOL about her "Husband". I would recommend this book to anyone and will be passing it on to a friend.

[CJ - It's only a Paper Moon · Rating 1 out of 5]

Why? Why did I think this would be a good book to try and read?

Got to the middle and decided that I don't hate myself enough to finish this.

[Sandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cut. Heroine a little too ditzy to be believable

[Kate Fankhauser · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book to read on the beach when you just want a fun quick read.

[Michelle Campanella · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first book by Elaine Fox. I thought some parts were super funny and others made me sad!!!

[ShoSho]

The heroine and her lies and secret were on nerves and then I read a review that said she only confesses in the last chapter . I couldn't take any more.DNF

[Brandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!!!

[Afiqah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely funny and romantic read that will have you giggling on the bed till the end.

[Mindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

cute flirty story

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Down right side splitting funny! A sexy romance! Loved it!